João Cabral facts for kids

João Cabral was an adventurous Portuguese Jesuit missionary and explorer. He was one of the first Europeans to visit the mountain kingdom of Bhutan in 1627. The very next year, he became the first European to explore parts of Nepal and the Sikkim region of India.

Early Life and Becoming a Jesuit

João Cabral was born in 1599 in a town called Celorico da Beira in Portugal. When he was about 16 years old, in 1615, he joined the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. The Jesuits are a group of Catholic priests and brothers who are famous for their work in education and for traveling to distant lands to share their Christian faith.

Journey to the Himalayas

On September 5, 1626, Cabral began a very long and challenging journey. He set off for the high plains of Tibet, a region in the Himalayas. His main goals were to find a legendary place called the Kingdom of Shambala and to spread the Christian faith to the people living there.

Traveling through these remote and difficult areas was a huge adventure. In 1627, João Cabral, along with another Jesuit named Estêvão Cacella, made history. They became the first Europeans known to have entered Bhutan, a country nestled in the eastern Himalayas.

The following year, in 1628, Cabral continued his explorations. He traveled further, becoming the first European to visit the neighboring country of Nepal. He also explored the Sikkim region, which is now part of India. These journeys were very important because they opened up new knowledge about these previously unknown parts of the world to Europeans.

Later Missionary Work

After his incredible journeys in the Himalayas, João Cabral's plans to find Shambala and establish a Christian mission in Tibet did not fully succeed. He then returned to India. He continued his work as a missionary in other parts of Asia, including Malacca (in modern-day Malaysia), Macau (in China), and Japan. He dedicated his life to traveling and sharing his faith in many different countries.